Tasman District
Council Golden
Bay Community Board Agenda – 13 November 2023
8 Reports
8.1
Board Report -
November
Decision Required
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Report
To:
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Golden
Bay Community Board
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Meeting
Date:
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13
November 2023
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Report
Author:
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Abbie
Langford, Chair; Jess McAlinden, Team Leader - Customer Services
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Report
Authorisers:
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Report
Number:
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RGBCB23-11-4
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1. Purpose
of the Report / Te Take mō te Pūrongo
1.1 The
Board report is attached for inclusion in the Agenda.
2. Recommendation/s
/ Ngā Tūtohunga
That the Golden Bay Community
Boardreceives the Board Report - November RGBCB23-11-4.
3.1 The public forum presentations from the
October meeting are outlined in the following table:
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Speaker
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Topic
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Outcome
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1.
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Mark Raffills
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Newsline article
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No further action required.
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4.1 The
Board would like to acknowledge Sara Chapman who stepped down as the Chair of
the Golden Bay Rec Park Centre at their September AGM.
4.2 Sara
was instrumental in the construction of the Rec Park Centre, donating countless
hours to ensure that Golden Bay had an amazing community recreational facility.
4.3 Once
the facility was built, Sara stepped up as Chair of the Board and dedicated
even more of her time to building a successful centre for the sporting and
community groups in Golden Bay.
4.4 Sara,
thank you for your vision, time, and dedication. You have left a legacy for
Golden Bay.
4.5 The
Board wish to convey their congratulations to Tyler Langford who has stepped
into the Chair role at the Rec Park Centre, and we wish her every
success.
5. Water
Conservation Order
Water Conservation Order overview
5.1 The Water Conservation Order
(WCO) officially called “Te Puna Waiora o Te
Waikoropupū Springs and Wharepapa Arthur
Marble Aquifer Water Conservation Order 2023” was gazetted and came into
effect from 19th October 2023. It is the first WCO to have been made
in a decade and the first one for groundwater. It aims to protect and sustain
the physical, ecological, recreational and spiritual values of the aquifer and
springs and their significance for iwi/Māori.
5.2 The Court’s report and
recommendation on the WCO was released on 28 July 2023. The report can be seen
in full here. The WCO is designed to maintain the springs
in their natural state as Te Puna Waiora in accordance
with tikanga Māori. This includes achieving an approximate 9% reduction in
nitrate concentrations, back to 2017 levels, by 2038.
5.3 Tasman District Council must
provide Ngāti Tama ki Te Tauihu and other Manawhenua
Iwi (Ngāti Rarua and Te Ātiawa) with an opportunity to partner with
it (clause 6). Where appropriate Council must assist the exercise of their rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga over
the springs.
5.4 The
WCO clauses apply at the Springs and in the recharge area that influences flows
and water quality at the Springs. This area is called the Wharepara
Arthur Marble Aquifer Recharge Area or WAMARA. A map of the WAMARA is available
on Council’s website on the Freshwater Management Units (FMU) map (here), which landowners can zoom in on to check
whether their properties are affected by the WCO.
5.5 Staff
are mindful of the implications on the lives and livelihoods of those living in
areas of the valley that are covered by the WCO. Those implications are likely
to include changes to the way land and water are utilised.
Water Conservation Order – specific requirements
5.6 The
WCO defines a water allocation limit (766 l/s) for the recharge area and a
minimum water flow (6895 l/s) at the main spring. These are consistent with the
2019 recommendations of the Tākaka Freshwater and Land Advisory Group
(FLAG), a collaborative undertaking between the community and Manawhenua ki
Mohua and supported by the Council.
5.7 The WCO does not affect existing
lawful permitted activities or existing consented activities (until those
consents expire). Current water take consents are not affected until the new
regional plan for the FMU is operative or a review of the permit is undertaken
prior to this. The minimum flow would apply to any new water permits in the
recharge area effective from when the WCO comes into effect.
5.8 Council’s
Resource Scientist – Water states, that whilst there is available water
in the aquifer under the WCO allocation limit, no more water permits (that
might affect nitrate concentrations in the recharge area) should be issued
until the nitrate levels in the WCO are reached.
5.9 Accordingly, from 19 October
2023 no resource consent may be granted, and no rule may permit the use of
water or discharge of any contaminant that increases nitrate-nitrogen or
dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations, or that reduces dissolved
oxygen (DO) and water clarity at the springs. The limits for each of the above
parameters are specified in the WCO.
5.10 The WCO does not affect the lawful take or
use of surface water or groundwater for the reasonable water requirements of
dairy sheds operating in the aquifer’s recharge area as at 31 January
2018.
5.11 Both the Cobb Hydro-electric Power Scheme
and the New Zealand King Salmon hatchery operate within the WCO area. The WCO
does not affect current or future (as long as they are similar) resource
consents for these operations, provided that their activities do not cause
deterioration in water quality.
5.12 Council must have particular regard to
cultural health when preparing any plan change or deciding on any resource
application affecting the springs. An annual cultural health monitoring report
can be prepared by Manawhenua Iwi, otherwise cultural health must be determined
through consultation.
Implementation of the WCO through the resource management
plan
5.13 Council has scope to determine which
activities are restricted and how, and to manage any impact of farming through
the Tasman Resource Management Plan for Tākaka, provided the water quality
outcomes prescribed by the WCO are achieved.
5.14 Council’s environmental policy team
will develop provisions for nitrate management that will be implemented through
the Land and Freshwater Plan Change, which is currently under way. The WCO
requires Council to use its best endeavours to notify any plan changes no later
than 31 December 2024 (which is consistent with RMA requirements under sec 80A
regarding Freshwater Plans as part of implementing implement the National
Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM)).
Te Waikoropupū Action Plan
5.15 An Action Plan (under the NPS-FM) for the
springs and recharge area is also in development by staff, in conjunction with
Ngāti Tama and other Manawhenua Iwi, and farmers of the WAMARA. The Action
Plan may include other statutory and non-statutory approaches to address the
nitrate issue.
5.16 Farmers within the WAMARA have formed a
group called FAMA (Farmers Across Marble Aquifer) and the TWS Catchment Group.
They are committed to adapting their farm systems to lower nutrient losses,
while maintaining strong financial viability. They are also committed to
understanding scientific and cultural aspects of karst riverine and aquifer
systems (consistent with Te Mana o te Wai).
5.17 FAMA is keen to establish a catchment group
to access central and local government funding and expertise.
Council’s Monitoring Programme in
relation to the WCO
5.18 Monitoring for nitrate-nitrogen and DRP is
to be undertaken monthly by Council at the spring sites. Clarity and dissolved
oxygen are to be measured at the main spring over a consecutive three-month
period, between October and January, within one year of the gazettal of the
order and at no more than a five yearly interval thereafter.
5.19 Due to the complexity of the water system of
the WAMARA the report that accompanies the WCO advocates the Council considers
wider monitoring, subject to independent review of the current monitoring
system.
5.20 Staff
are committed to an independent review of our monitoring programme in the
Tākaka catchments. It will identify whether the required approach
continues to be fit for purpose and if there are gaps that need to be
addressed. We are committed to improving freshwater management in the
Tākaka Valley, to ensure existing good water quality and health is
maintained and where necessary further improved, to address the limits set
under the WCO.
Compliance monitoring in relation to the WCO.
5.21 Compliance
staff will continue to actively monitor all discharge and water take resource
consents operating within the WAMARA and respond where issues arise. As
new resource consents are granted these will be incorporated into the
monitoring programme.
5.22 Staff
will also continue to focus on farm related land use activities subject to
controls under the National Environment Standards for Freshwater with
particular emphasis on intensive winter grazing, nitrogen use, stock exclusion
and dairy effluent disposal. This is important given the karst
landscape and the connectivity of freshwater in this area.
Potential drought conditions and the WCO
5.23 The
Council is considering how we manage the likely droughts over this summer
period year given the shifting weather patterns are likely to bring dryer
weather to the region.
5.24 One
of the options open to the Council is the use of section 329 of the Resource
Management Act to issue water shortage directions. However, the Council needs
to consider the effect of the Water Conservation Order on any directions. We
hope to do this over the next few weeks and publish our position as soon as
possible to ensure that all parties are aware of the tools open to the Council
and when they may be used. In the meantime, our communications team will begin
putting out messaging encouraging people to conserve water during the summer
months.
6. Port Tarakohe Capital Funding
Kānoa submission for capital funding
6.1 The
application for $6 million in concessional funding to complete the sheet-piled
wharf and ablution block was successful. The Council is now commencing
with the project planning and developing cashflows. We expect the first
drawdown under the advance is expected to occur in February 2024 before that
date a number of conditions precedent will need to be met.
Temporary ablution block and progress to
date
6.2 The
Council has agreed unbudgeted funding to progress the temporary ablution
block. This will service the port and marina users until the permanent
block is constructed.
Commercial Review
6.3 Council
has undertaking a confidential commercial review of Port Tarakohe. That review
will be considered by the Enterprise committee at its meeting on 15th of
November with any recommendations going to the full council meeting on the 22
November for inclusion in the draft 2024-34 Long Term Plan.
7. Golden
Bay Coachlines subsidised service
7.1 Thank you to Golden Bay
Coachlines and Tasman District Council for your continued service of the
subsidised bus service to Nelson, which is an important service for Golden Bay.
8. Chorus
Mobile Exchange on Wheels (MEOW)
8.1 As part of resilience planning and
emergency preparedness, Chorus have constructed two Mobile Exchanges On
Wheels (MEOW) ready to be deployed if a significant event strikes one of their
exchanges.
8.2 More information and an overview of the
MEOW units can be viewed on the Chorus YouTube channel https://youtu.be/5P05axyyaL0?si=1QI486UFjv47P1bE
8.3 Correspondence
from Chorus regarding the MEOW units is attached, along with information
relating to rural voice services, which has been included as an attached
document. (Attachment one)
9.1 The
action sheet is attached. (Attachment two)
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1.⇩
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Chorus
Correspondence - MEOW units and Rural Voice information
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12
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2.⇩
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Action
Sheet
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16
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